schnell

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Posts by schnell

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  11

  Jehovah - I don't like you.

  by berrygerry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences
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  schnell

  I'm not a huge fan of Aquaman, myself.
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  30

  AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY: MAIN CONCLUSIONS ON JW ORGANIZATION

  by steve2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  10 response of the jehovah’s witness organisation to the sexual abuse of children.

  having regard to the various matters we have discussed in this report, we have reached a number of general conclusions on the jehovah’s witness organisation’s response to the sexual abuse of children.

  we do not consider the jehovah’s witness organisation to be an organisation which responds adequately to child sexual abuse.

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  schnell

  And why don't its people care?
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  138

  Jehovah God is Real

  by TakeOffTheCrown in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there are many on this site that do not believe that jehovah truly exists; that he is not a real being.

  but, he is as real as next breath you draw into your nostrils.. some of you say that there is no evidence that he exists.

  yet, none of you can prove that he does not exits.. cofty, (you come to mind), i appreciate that you have stated, without reservation, that you do not believe that god exists.. yet, you cannot prove it.. hope in jehovah..

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  schnell

  If there's a personal god, why would I need faith that he's there? For reference, I don't need that for anybody else.
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  6

  "Brexit? What's that?"

  by schnell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  having shared the arc report on facebook and shaken up my network of jw friends, uhhh... i am now learning how unfortunately ignorant they have become.

  so far the overall response to the report has shown that well enough, but it got worse.. a friend of mine moved to the uk from california a few years back.

  after he saw my post, he pmed me, essentially checking up to see if i'm alright.

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  schnell

  Having shared the ARC report on Facebook and shaken up my network of JW friends, uhhh... I am now learning how unfortunately ignorant they have become. So far the overall response to the report has shown that well enough, but it got worse.

  A friend of mine moved to the UK from California a few years back. After he saw my post, he PMed me, essentially checking up to see if I'm alright. I said yeah my wife and I are alright, and asked how things are in the UK. Cordially, he said they're good, could be better but we'll get along anyway. I agreed, and said it's interesting to see all the history going on, but we just have to get along.

  "History?..."

  "Brexit, Trump, all that."

  "Brexit? What's that? I will Google it."

  ...

  What is going on? What rock are my friends hiding under and why does it seem so comfortable? How does my smart, thinking friend go without knowing about Brexit whilst living in England? How does this happen?

  If he were to go to the door, and I were a householder, and we had basically the same conversation that I have relayed here, what would the householder in London think of this?

  My god, people...
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  8

  Article: Jehovah's Witnesses condemned for using 2,000yo rules regarding child sex abuse

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-28/jehovahs-witness-handling-of-child-abuse-condemned-in-report/8063798.

  by michelle brown.

  jehovah's witnesses use of 2,000-year-old protocols when dealing with abuse complaints has been condemned in a report by the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.. last year, the commission examined the experiences of two abuse survivors within the jehovah's witness organisation.. it also looked at evidence from case files that recorded reports or complaints of abuse by just over 1,000 jehovah's witnesses.

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  schnell

  Doc, I shared it straight from the ARC. It could have been Fox News and it wouldn't have made a difference.
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  STORY TIME! The Emperor's New Clothes

  by schnell in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i revisited this story tonight, as i see intelligent, knowledgeable friends toe the jw party line in response to the arc's report and literally any other criticism.

  it's a story everyone knows, one that affected me as a child, and here i am, seeing remarkable parallels today.

  enjoy.. once upon a time there lived a vain emperor whose only worry in life was to dress in elegant clothes.

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  schnell

  I revisited this story tonight, as I see intelligent, knowledgeable friends toe the JW party line in response to the ARC's report and literally any other criticism. It's a story everyone knows, one that affected me as a child, and here I am, seeing remarkable parallels today. Enjoy.

  Once upon a time there lived a vain Emperor whose only worry in life was to dress in elegant clothes. He changed clothes almost every hour and loved to show them off to his people.

  Word of the Emperor's refined habits spread over his kingdom and beyond. Two scoundrels who had heard of the Emperor's vanity decided to take advantage of it. They introduced themselves at the gates of the palace with a scheme in mind.

  "We are two very good tailors and after many years of research we have invented an extraordinary method to weave a cloth so light and fine that it looks invisible. As a matter of fact it is invisible to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent to appreciate its quality."

  The chief of the guards heard the scoundrel's strange story and sent for the court chamberlain. The chamberlain notified the prime minister, who ran to the Emperor and disclosed the incredible news. The Emperor's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to see the two scoundrels.

  "Besides being invisible, your Highness, this cloth will be woven in colors and patterns created especially for you." The emperor gave the two men a bag of gold coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on the fabric immediately.

  "Just tell us what you need to get started and we'll give it to you." The two scoundrels asked for a loom, silk, gold thread and then pretended to begin working. The Emperor thought he had spent his money quite well: in addition to getting a new extraordinary suit, he would discover which of his subjects were ignorant and incompetent. A few days later, he called the old and wise prime minister, who was considered by everyone as a man with common sense.

  "Go and see how the work is proceeding," the Emperor told him, "and come back to let me know."

  The prime minister was welcomed by the two scoundrels.

  "We're almost finished, but we need a lot more gold thread. Here, Excellency! Admire the colors, feel the softness!" The old man bent over the loom and tried to see the fabric that was not there. He felt cold sweat on his forehead.

  "I can't see anything," he thought. "If I see nothing, that means I'm stupid! Or, worse, incompetent!" If the prime minister admitted that he didn't see anything, he would be discharged from his office.

  "What a marvelous fabric, he said then. "I'll certainly tell the Emperor." The two scoundrels rubbed their hands gleefully. They had almost made it. More thread was requested to finish the work.

  Finally, the Emperor received the announcement that the two tailors had come to take all the measurements needed to sew his new suit.

  "Come in," the Emperor ordered. Even as they bowed, the two scoundrels pretended to be holding large roll of fabric.

  "Here it is your Highness, the result of our labour," the scoundrels said. "We have worked night and day but, at last, the most beautiful fabric in the world is ready for you. Look at the colors and feel how fine it is." Of course the Emperor did not see any colors and could not feel any cloth between his fingers. He panicked and felt like fainting. But luckily the throne was right behind him and he sat down. But when he realized that no one could know that he did not see the fabric, he felt better. Nobody could find out he was stupid and incompetent. And the Emperor didn't know that everybody else around him thought and did the very same thing.

  The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it. Once they had taken the measurements, the two began cutting the air with scissors while sewing with their needles an invisible cloth.

  "Your Highness, you'll have to take off your clothes to try on your new ones." The two scoundrels draped the new clothes on him and then held up a mirror. The Emperor was embarrassed but since none of his bystanders were, he felt relieved.

  "Yes, this is a beautiful suit and it looks very good on me," the Emperor said trying to look comfortable. "You've done a fine job."

  "Your Majesty," the prime minister said, "we have a request for you. The people have found out about this extraordinary fabric and they are anxious to see you in your new suit." The Emperor was doubtful showing himself naked to the people, but then he abandoned his fears. After all, no one would know about it except the ignorant and the incompetent.

  "All right," he said. "I will grant the people this privilege." He summoned his carriage and the ceremonial parade was formed. A group of dignitaries walked at the very front of the procession and anxiously scrutinized the faces of the people in the street. All the people had gathered in the main square, pushing and shoving to get a better look. An applause welcomed the regal procession.

  Everyone wanted to know how stupid or incompetent his or her neighbor was but, as the Emperor passed, a strange murmur rose from the crowd. Everyone said, loud enough for the others to hear: "Look at the Emperor's new clothes. They're beautiful!"

  "What a marvellous train!"

  "And the colors! The colors of that beautiful fabric! I have never seen anything like it in my life!" They all tried to conceal their disappointment at not being able to see the clothes, and since nobody was willing to admit his own stupidity and incompetence, they all behaved as the two scoundrels had predicted.

  A child, however, who had no important job and could only see things as his eyes showed them to him, went up to the carriage.

  "The Emperor is naked," he said.

  "Fool!" his father reprimanded, running after him. "Don't talk nonsense!" He grabbed his child and took him away.

  But the boy's remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated over and over again until everyone cried: "The boy is right! The Emperor is naked! It's true!"

  The Emperor realized that the people were right but could not admit to that. He though it better to continue the procession under the illusion that anyone who couldn't see his clothes was either stupid or incompetent. And he stood stiffly on his carriage, while behind him a page held his imaginary mantle.
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  21

  Royal Commission Australia - Report into Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society has been released

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  link to pdf:.

  http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/c2d1f1f5-a1f2-4241-82fb-978d072734bd/report-of-case-study-no-29.

  reading it now...no comment yet.

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  schnell

  Listener, well, that got a like. I have non-JW friends as well, and I can't believe how JWs have responded to it in their view.

  One called it 110 pages of BS and asked if I was molested myself. So that's nice.

  A few of them defended the two witness rule, to which I opined that it would be easier if the elders just excused themselves from all criminal allegations and turned them over to authorities.

  They seem to care more about reputation, and I said I reject the notion that accused offenders should be given the benefit of a doubt over their accusers, because that allows legitimate offenders to be hidden.

  Most of them parroted responses about finding fault and sticking with Jehovah.

  Only one has acknowledged that it isn't about blind faith, that at best, the organization does have room to change and perhaps should.

  I have not once argued in the thread that people should renounce their faith.

  And my wife is pissed at me now. Like I said, I'm just tired of it. People can take it or leave it.
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  21

  Royal Commission Australia - Report into Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society has been released

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  link to pdf:.

  http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/c2d1f1f5-a1f2-4241-82fb-978d072734bd/report-of-case-study-no-29.

  reading it now...no comment yet.

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  schnell

  I have shared the link on Facebook under my real name with a brief and stoic post clarifying that it is public information from a government commission after an investigation, not biased lies.

  Already got blocked by a dear friend of many years. *sigh*

  I am tired of the fear and the "freeness of speech".
  
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  8

  Was pyramidology a distraction to hide Russell's true source?

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  russell was big in to the pyramid at giza but i'm trying to understand his line of thinking?

  in the early 1840s and author by the name of john aquila brown wrote a book called the even-tide.

  in his book he lays out the times of the end and his ideas on the book of daniel.

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  schnell

  I've been reading Gentile Times Reconsidered. I am not at all far but I have not yet come across the pyramid. Might I suggest that Russell believed the pyramid's length corroborated Barbour's calculation that terminated in 1914?
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  14

  What Is This Thing Called Enlightenment?

  by Brokeback Watchtower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been doing personal research on this for quite some time.

  what do mystical experiences have to do with it.

  what is this thing they call liberation?.

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  schnell

  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯